Best Things to Do in Prizren, Kosovo
In case you are curious (like me) and find yourself wanting to explore lesser known destinations in Europe, you may find yourself drawn to Albania, Kosovo, or other off the beaten path destinations. While I went to Tirana, Albania with the purpose of getting a Russian Visa (Fun Fact: It turns out its the only place in Europe an American can get a Russian Visa.), I decided visiting Prizren in Kosovo was a must, mostly because I knew very little about it.
I’m sharing my learnings from visiting Prizren in Kosovo, to help others know what to expect, including tips that might be useful, the top 8 things to see and do in Prizren, where to stay, and some entertainment from my adventure there.
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Getting from Tirana, Albania to Prizren, Kosovo
Visiting Prizren in Kosovo from nearby cities should not prove too difficult as there are frequent buses. From Tirana for example, there are multiple buses throughout the day and they only take about 3 hours to arrive in Prizren and cost ~$10. Please note though, and you’ll discover why in the story below, you should arrive early for your bus!!
Story about my journey which you should NOT repeat
Let me begin by saying the 6:00am bus I took was awful. Surprisingly not because it was at 6:00am or because it was a long, bumpy, hot, or smelly ride, etc. but I arrived at 5:45am, as I was suggested to do, and there were no seats left but at the table in back. Yes, there was a large table in the back with eight cup holders and a circular seat around it. As there was only one person there I thought, okay, not ideal as I don’t know how to sleep at a table anymore, (Maybe someone can start teaching Calculus as that always put me to sleep…) but it will do.
By the time we left, my inability to sleep at a table didn’t matter as we now had a full table with me in the middle. But it gets worse, we stopped to pick up 4 more people! The second in command on the bus took pity on the last girl we picked up and put her in the co-captain chair while they crammed 11 of us into the back table, 10 Albanian and Kosovan men, and me.
Fortunately, (I’m still not sure if it’s actually fortunate) the guy on my right spoke English and had lived in Miami for a while and was able to interpret things like when we needed passports. Unfortunately, he wanted to go to Prizren with me, be my Facebook friend, and for me to call him when I went to Pristina, his end destination. Even after I gave him a solid hell no on him coming to Prizren with me, he kept trying. Yet, he was way less creepy than the guy on my left.
The guy on my left was probably 55 and kept trying to rub his leg against mine and not so subtly scooting his hand over to touch mine, and he spoke no English. After two hours of scooting as far to the right as I could, I was sitting practically in a pretzel to create as much space between me and the creep on the left. It was such an awkward position that the guy on the right asked if I had hurt my shoulder. I calmly replied “No, I just don’t like being touched.”
The good news is after two hours we stopped and when we got back on the bus the guy on the right took the hint and exchanged positions with me so I no longer had to deal with the creep on the left and could ride peacefully in my tiny little personal space. When I thanked him he said, “Yea, I figured you’d appreciate it”. We finally pulled into a gas station in the middle of nowhere, and they called for Prizren.
A little concerned that this was not the destination I was expecting as it was not close to anything, I made my way out of the table and off the bus. Only the co-captain girl and I got off, and we were transferred into a van for the rest of our journey – our very own van!! I don’t know that I’ve valued my personal space so much before. Note to self (and you): Always be more than 15 minutes early to avoid not having a proper seat on the bus!
What to Expect in Prizren
Prizren is a small town in Kosovo with a lot of character. In a lot of ways it reminded me of Mostar, Bosnia as it has a river that runs through the center (more of a stream) and a stone bridge, like Stari Most, and a mix of religious buildings. The town is not large, but it is beautiful, not crowded with tourists, and is inexpensive. Burek for €.70 or 2 nectarines and a liter of juice for €.80 – I’ll take it!
Top 8 Things to See and Do in Prizren
As mentioned above, there are a LOT of religious sights, but there are a few other things to see and do as well. Here are the top 8 items I recommend when visiting Prizren in Kosovo.
1. Prizren Fortress (Kalaja)
This majestic fortress can be seen from all around Prizren as it decorates the surrounding mountainsides. The Kalaja Fortress is said to date back to the 11th century from when the Byzantines occupied Prizren.
It is worth hiking up the hill (even in 100 degree heat like I had when I was there) to both see the fortress ruins up close and also to admire the views of the city as you head up the hillside.
2. Church of Holy Savior
As you climb the hill up to the Kalaja Fortress, you will pass the Church of Holy Savior. It is beautiful and also lays in ruin, but a great stop for a few pictures and some shade.
3. The Stone Bridge and the Old Town
The charm of Prizren lies in how quaint the Old Town is. Spend a couple of hours wandering around the town and you will stumble upon all kinds of wonderful restaurants and hidden gems, like the Stone Bridge.
The Stone Bridge is a symbol of Prizren and spans the Bistrica River, connecting the two sides of the city. It offers medieval charm and picturesque views of the river and the city.
4. The Church of Our Lady of Ljevis
Visiting this Orthodox church was an experience. It is a 14th century Serbian Church that was used as a mosque by locals until 1911. In the 1950s it was renovated and then it was damaged in 2004 by the Albanian population. It is considered an UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and is worth a visit, if you are an approved visitor.
I was stopped by two police men on my way in and when they found out I was American, they told me to enjoy and stepped aside. Inside the church I met an American with two Kosovo citizens, and the Kosovo citizens commented they had never been allowed into this church and were only allowed because they were with an American.
5. Mosques: Sinan Pasha Mosque / Emin Pasha Mosque / Arasta Mosque
Prizren has a number of mosques throughout the city with Sinan Pasha Mosque being the most famous. It is from the Ottoman Empire era and features the highest minaret in Prizren, over 50 windows, and walls that are over 2 meters thick.
6. Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
This cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prizren-Pristina.
7. Eat All the Local Food
As it was 100+ degrees while I was there, I sought refuge inside my hostel (the only hostel in town at the time) at mid-day, and met one of my roommates who was an American living in Hungary to teach English. She had green hair. Anyway, back to the food – we grabbed a late lunch/early dinner at one of the small restaurants, and between us we had 2 beers, 1 water, bread, an appetizer of pepper with cheese, a Greek salad, two entrees with fries and vegetables on the side, and watermelon for dessert: €10 total. I’m in love. Eat everything you can. Seriously. You will not regret it.
8. Sharr Mountains National Park
If you have the time to get out of the city, visit Sharr Mountains National Park. It sits in the mountain range between Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo. I heard rumor there are glacial lakes in the mountain (you know, the kind that glow turquoise/blue), but I unfortunately did not get a chance to explore it myself.
Where to Stay When Visiting Prizren
There was only one hostel I could find when I went to Prizren in 2015 (City Hostel), but it looks like tourism may have picked up as there are now a number of them available, and they are very well rated. I recommend staying as centrally as possible to avoid walking down too many side alleys on your own.
Top 3 Budget Accommodation Picks
Please note the cost will likely change, but to give an idea of cost/comfort, I wanted to include it.
- Ura Hostel: ~$12 8 bed dorm (9.8 rating)
- M99 Hostel: ~$10 6 bed dorm (9.7 rating)
- Hotel Prizren: ~$34 small private double room (9.4 rating)
One Last “Fun” Antidote from My Stay in Prizren
At the end of the day when I returned to my hostel, a Japanese guy walked in, and I knew him, but from where?! After debating for a bit, we figured it out. We had both been at Hostel David in Mostar, Bosnia about a month prior. It made for a fun night as all of us travelers spent the evening hanging out. One of them was from Macau, and I learned something new: In Macau, they can get Portuguese passports as it was formerly a Portuguese territory. And I leave you with that…
All in all, visiting Prizren was a success. I recommend if you’re passing through, stop for a day or two. Even if only to eat all the food!
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You know what I’ve always wanted to go to Kosovo and I’m really glad you wrote this guide cause barely any bloggers go there! 🙂 The pictures looks beautiful and the article was super insightful, thanks for bumping it up on my list even more! 🙂
Agreed that not a lot of bloggers visit Kosovo, which really is a shame! I find sometimes I’m most drawn to the less visited places, like Kosovo, because you get to see a side of countries and cities that you might not see in frequently visited places. For one, locals are generally very excited for you to be there and to share their culture. I hope you make it there soon!
Oh, it does remind me on Mostar as well! And I loved Mostar, so this goes to my road trip itinerary! 🙂
Oh what a great area to road trip! You’ll have a fabulous time.
I have always wanted to go to Kosovo as well! It’s such a great place and so underrated these days! Thanks for sharing!
Totally agree, Kosovo is underrated! And yet, I hope it doesn’t get too “discovered” – it might lose some of the small town charm! Thanks for reading!
Looks like such a cute place to explore! And too funny about trying to avoid being touched when you sit next to people haha, I’ve definitely done that also!
Haha! It just goes to show, not all parts of travel are glamorous lol. Happy travels!
Yikes that was quite the bus ride. I really value my personal space so I definitely would have been very uncomfortable. Note to self….if going from Albania to Kosovo arrive very very early!! It seems like Prizren is a really nice place to visit otherwise.
It is a great place to visit. And the people are very friendly – just at times, too friendly (ha!). Arriving early will solve the problem. Your very own individual bus seat with only one seat neighbor… I’d call that traveling in style!